Orrefors Lundin Kitty Cat Engraved Swedish Crystal Vase

Ingeborg Lundin was the first female artist hired at Orrefors. She worked there from 1947 to 1971, and may be best known for her large, delicate, very round, hand blown, "Apple" vases. By contrast, this sturdier piece is blown with a heavy base and copper-wheel engraved. Lundin's engraved motifs always show a touch of whimsy, and this cat is no exception. The vase is 6 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter, and heavy, weighing just over 2 pounds. The design code 3552 tells me it was designed in 1955, the date code is missing, so I can't tell you when this particular piece was made. I believe that the engraver's initials are those of Thure Löfgren.

The Orrefors story began in 1726, when an ironworks and smith was built near “the beautiful river that flows into Lake Orranäs” in the Swedish countryside. It was given the name Orrefors, which means “the Orre waterfall.” ("Orre" is the Swedish name for the black grouse, which is the bird seen on their iconic labels.) The foundry was converted to a glassworks in 1898, as the demand for iron decreased. By the mid-1920s, Orrefors was celebrated for the quality and beauty of its glass. The company employed master artists and craftsmen, some of whom worked their whole careers of 40, 50, or more years at Orrefors.